Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it is as likely as not related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, schizophrenia, and depression. The Veteran's hearing was found not to meet the criteria for a VA compensable disability. His psychiatric conditions are considered to be related to his willful misconduct during service.,Service connection for alcohol and/or substance abuse dependence (secondary to an acquired psychiatric condition) is denied as it is considered willful misconduct.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete records. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending and will be reconsidered.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the Veteran not having a current diagnosis of hearing loss disability. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for left ankle and foot disability, requesting additional medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of an upper respiratory infection, sinusitis, and right ear hearing loss due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service.,The Veteran's dermatitis (claimed as a full body rash) is not related to his military service. The VA examiner opined that it was less likely than not caused by or the result of his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's case is being remanded because the VA did not conduct a new audiometric examination to assess his current bilateral hearing loss, which may have worsened since his last evaluation in May 2014.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are currently pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation throughout the period on appeal. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and opinion regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, psychiatric disability, and headache disability.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection, and a separate 10 percent rating for residuals of his right knee meniscectomy is granted. The Veteran's claim for higher ratings on his right knee patellofemoral syndrome remains denied.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective February 1, 2013. The case is remanded for additional evidence regarding marginal employment between December 21, 2011 and June 4, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of brain trauma and bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination reports. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has decided the compensable rating, effective date, and CUE issues related to the Veteran's service-connected otitis media, hearing loss in the right ear, and sinusitis. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are not service-connected, with the exception of remanding the issue of bilateral hearing loss for further examination. The decision on tinnitus remains denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability that began during service or is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD in March 2009, and the Veteran did not appeal. The claim to reopen was denied as there is no new and material evidence.,Service connection for bipolar disorder with a depressed episode has been granted due to aggravation by service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.